Leo and Raph 2012 story

Part 3

Leonardo had been seeing less and less of Raphael, he grew worried for his brother, he didn't really talk to anyone, and it seemed that he'd been sleeping less, his training skills aren't sharp, locking himself up in his room, heck he doesn't smack Mikey over the head when he says or does something stupid anymore.

Leonardo was about done with it, after the whole ordeal with Shredder taking over his mind and almost killing him, you'd think he'd be more keen on trusting Leonardo of all his brothers with his problems, after all keeping his secrets and emotions bottled up led him to Shredder.

Every time Raphael looked at Leonardo, he'd always react the same way, looking down, clenching his teeth, folding his arms, closing his eyes as though in pain , then running back up to his room, Leonardo could've sworn he'd hear him sniffling at night.

Leonardo was done with it, he finally went up to Raphael's room and knocked. Raphael didn't respond so he opened the door, Raphael was... meditating.

Raphael was grunting and groaning softly, Leonardo touched his shoulder, Raphael flinched, he woke from his trance and pulled his sais and put one to Leonardo's neck, Raphael shook his head after a moment and stepped back, he put his hand on his head, he closed his eyes, then he noticed Leonardo, he quickly turned away and put his hand on his arm, an injury he'd gotten from Shredder was opened and it had dried blood staining it, in fact a few more injuries had opened up, Leonardo noticed blood on Raphael's sais.

"Raph? Are you opening up wounds?" he asked, Raph nodded slowly. Leonardo took a step back,"Raph! How long have you been cutting yourself!"Leonardo asked.

Raph began to bandage the cuts,"Raph! Please don't do this again, you know what happens when you bottle up secrets and emotions, it'll hurt you or even... kill you,"Raph stopped.

"That's exactly why I'm doing it, too punish myself for being stupid, I deserve no pity, no honor, I only deserve pain for what is to happen,"Raphael said, Leonardo gave him a soft glare,"Raph, nothing could make you deserve this, what he did to you wasn't your fault."

"I let that scum live! H-He... destroyed you, I-I was t-too weak!"Raph cried softly.

Leonardo embraced his brother,"You saved me from myself, you did good!"Leonardo said, Raphael ignored him, pulling himself away,"Raph, please don't do this to yourself, stop beating yourself up about it, it was worse enough that Shredder almost killed you with a blade,"Leonardo stated, Raph growled.

"I'm going out, don't try to stop me..."he said, Leonardo shook his head, he grabbed his hand,"The last time you went out alone you almost ended up dying!"he snapped, Raph froze, Leonardo let him go, Raph held his head for a minute.

"Fine..."Raphael sat down, Leonardo grabbed some bandage and touched his brother's still hurt shoulder, the one Shredder used to nearly kill him, Raph winced and pulled away, Leo frowned,"Raph, you haven't been cutting that wound have you?"he asked, Raphael growled at him and set his own hand on it,"Please just... let it end,"he mumbled.

Raphael didn't look at him as he bandaged his wounds, the only moment he spoke was in a mumble, he'd said 'sorry', Leonardo didn't like it one bit. Raphael wasn't acting himself. Leonardo stood up and put his hand on Raph's shoulder,"I'm sorry to..."he walked away.

Raphael had the look of instinct regret, that night Raphael snuck out.

Leonardo sat in the shadows watching his brother leave, he'd taken all but one bandage off, the one that covered the fatal wound he'd received from Shredder, Raph had told him that the brain worm was gone that night, even after months is still hadn't completely healed, Leonardo didn't try to stop him from leaving, because this time, if Raphael got hurt, Leonardo wouldn't freeze, he would help his brother, no matter what.